Security Council to Address Partial US Western Sahara Draft
A United States-proposed "draft zero" document, dated October 20, 2026, is intended to serve as a preliminary working basis for discussions among UN Security Council members concerning the renewal of MINURSO's mandate in Western Sahara. However, the current drafting is characterized as deeply partial and open to challenge, reportedly incorporating all of Morocco's demands. This apparent bias is seen to deviate from the balance required for a resolution consistent with United Nations principles, potentially prejudging the outcome of the political process before an agreement is reached by the parties involved.
The draft repeatedly elevates Morocco's autonomy proposal as the exclusive foundation for negotiations, affirming that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty constitutes the sole solution to the conflict. Although the preamble references self-determination, the project's framework is described as substantially limiting its scope. Furthermore, the text explicitly expresses regret over one party's refusal to engage substantively in negotiations, while exclusively presenting political arguments favorable to Rabat. It condemns the May 5, 2026, attack in Smara but does not offer a comparable analysis of Moroccan responsibilities in the conflict's persistence, including the use of drones, even against civilians. This asymmetry in the political treatment of the parties risks undermining the Security Council's credibility as an impartial guarantor of the negotiation process.
Another area of contention is the proposed rebranding of MINURSO to the "United Nations Mission for Western Sahara" (MINUSO), which would eliminate the "R" for referendum—a principle that has been a long-standing point for the Moroccan monarchy. This alteration is viewed as fundamentally changing the mission's parameters and distorting the nature of the conflict as a decolonization issue, the resolution of which must ensure the exercise of the right to self-determination. The draft also forecasts the end of the peacekeeping mandate by April 30, 2027, followed by a six-month transformation into a special political mission and a reduction of uniformed personnel by at least 50% by January 31, 2027. Such provisions suggest a significant reorientation of the UN's presence in Western Sahara while the dispute remains unresolved, prompting Council members to examine the practical implications and necessary safeguards to prevent regional instability.
The draft further introduces the question of registering the Sahrawi refugee population in the Tindouf region, a matter that could become highly sensitive if used for political purposes. In its current form, this "draft zero" appears to be an attempt to impose a predetermined political framework rather than an equitable basis for negotiation. Consequently, upcoming Security Council discussions are expected to focus on the resolution's content and structure, specifically addressing the exclusivity granted to the Moroccan plan, the reference to self-determination, the impartiality of the political process, and the proposed restructuring of MINURSO.
